Flamsteed Astronomy Society

Astronomy in China, Korea & Japan presents a total change to how we in the west look at the night sky. You could call it astronomical dyslexia, only two constellations in the Chinese night sky would be recognizable to us, plus it is Polar rather than ecliptically influenced. The region was also isolated from the West by distance and language. Chinese written records are based on observations dating back 1000+ years BC and more, the British Museum holds the Dunhuang star map, possibly the first pictorial representation of the night sky drawn in 600AD but based on much older records. The cultural influence of Chinese observational astronomy heavily influenced both Korean and Japanese observations of their night skies. But they too added their own observations and cultural concepts. I will try to introduce Asian astronomy prior to the arrival of the Jesuit missionaries. Rather than mythical beasts and legendary heroes their night sky had pavilions, gardens, palaces, markets and even Imperial prisons and toilets… They were visual astronomer, accurate and adept at their plotting, plus they developed water clocks and water driven armillary spheres. Bio: I have been studying astronomy since I was 11! I stopped for a number of years as I joined the Royal Navy and astronomy from submarines was an obvious issue. After leaving the RN I ended up living in Japan for 3 years and then China for 10. Though at that time I was not actively doing any astronomy I kept coming across information relating to Asian astronomy while travelling in the Far East, my studies in written and spoken Chinese and Japanese opened up a better understanding of astronomy in the region.

A friend at Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society introduced Rob to the Bedford Catalogue (first published 1844) around 2004. Rob has since updated the position of all 850 objects from Epoch 1840.0 to 2000.0 enabling them to be matched up with modern designations. The updated list can be found on the Webb Society’s web site at https://www.webbdeepsky.com/articles/rediscovering-the-bedford-catalogueInvestigating the life of the Bedford Catalogue’s author, Admiral William Henry Smyth followed on naturally from discovering and updating this, the first popular guide to the night sky. A part of this has been tracing the history of the two equatorially mounted telescopes he used to collect the observations he reports in his catalogue. In tonight’s talk Smyth’s life will be briefly covered. However mostly, I will describe the telescopes, their makers and how they have found their way from Smyth’s garden observatory to the Science Museum today. Looking at the telescope accessories leads to some possible insights into early Victorian observing techniques. The story contains a number of surprises and even a couple of outright lies! Bio: Rob Peeling is a chemical engineer doing consultancy work in the pharmaceutical, advanced materials, food, and other sectors. His interest in astronomy has been lifelong, winning a prize at school with an essay on astrophysics. However, it wasn’t until his 40th birthday that he bought his first telescope. That led to a number of projects such as measuring the mass of Jupiter and Saturn and the heights of mountains on the Moon. A larger telescope led to trying to observe as many objects as possible in the Herschel 400. . An unexpected rediscovery of one of Caroline Herschel’s observing journals, lost in the archives of the Royal Astronomical Society is a highlight on the road to the research that led to tonight’s talk.

Talk 1: Camille Flammarion - by Tony Milon.  Nicolas Camille Flammarion (1842-1925) was one of France’s most influential figures in popularising astronomy during the 19th century. As a contemporary of Jules Verne, Gustave Eiffel, and Louis Pasteur, Flammarion played a key role in making science accessible to the public. In this fascinating talk, Tony Milon will explore Flammarion’s life, his contributions to the emancipation of scientific thought, and his prolific writing career, which included more than 50 books. Learn how Flammarion inspired generations of budding astronomers and why he remains a significant figure in the history of science. Talk 2: Astrophotography as Art: Seizing the Cosmic Moment - by Tej Dyal.  Astrophotography offers a unique blend of technical skill and artistic vision, capturing the awe of the cosmos alongside Earth’s most iconic landscapes. Tej Dyal will share his personal journey into this creative field, where patience and precision meet the serendipity of celestial phenomena. From a glowing aurora over a city skyline to the full moon rising above historical landmarks, Tej will explore the artistry and luck involved in these breath-taking moments. Learn about the techniques behind these stunning images and discover how astrophotography turns science into art. This is a wonderful opportunity for members and guests to dive deep into the worlds of astronomy and photography, gaining both historical insight and creative inspiration. Whether you're an astronomy enthusiast, a lover of photography, or simply curious, these talks will leave you inspired.

Introduction to the Stella Cinderella A talk by Simon Nosworthy about Caroline Herschel What is the connection between the first officially paid female scientist, the first woman to discover a comet and the first woman to join the Royal Society? Caroline Herschel is the connection, and these are just a few of her accomplishments. Caroline was destined to be a domestic assistant, the role set out for many women of her time. Caroline fought prejudice, poverty, pestilence and her mother to escape this destiny and become one of the greatest astronomers of her age. How on earth did she do all this? Alice Everett; The Greenwich Astronomer who mapped the stars and became one of the early pioneers in TV Technology A talk by Mary Dooley. Alice Everett was one of the first batch women to be allowed to study for a degree at Girton College Cambridge and from January 1890 to be employed as an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. She was employed as a ‘lady computer’ but primarily worked on a major international project called the Carte de Ciel. Alice was the ultimate ‘career changer’! She continued to re-educate herself in STEM subjects to stay relevant and employable in the male dominated workplace of the 1900s. This enables her to get a job at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and later on with the Baird TV company working on the nascent technology of Television. She published many scientific papers in her lifetime notably in the notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the annual reports of the NPL and even in the journal Nature. She was a founder member of the Television Society later known as the Royal Television Society. A truly amazing lady of science!

25th AGM Address to the Flamsteed Astronomy Society members by Bobby Manoo, Chair

Following our recent FAS workshops on Telescopes and Astrophotography, we would not like to take our members into the emerging area of “Electronically Assisted Astronomy” or “EAA” for short. Observational astronomy has starting to shift from the traditional setup where people look through the eyepiece to view celestial objects to something which seems more like a cross between remote observation, astrophotography and computer/smartphone app usage. This is the area of EAA. Bobby and team will use this workshop to zone into its benefits, show what options there are and take a deep dive into setting up a typical EAA kit using a small single board computer called a Raspberry Pi. He will demonstrate how you can use the Raspberry Pi to install an integrated astronomy software called Astroberry which can then be used to remotely control a refractor telescope with an autofocuser that is mounted onto an equatorial go-to mount. For image capture, he will use a CCD guidescope and a DSLR Camera. At the end of this session, you will gain insights into how you can make simple and relatively cost-effective upgrades to your existing equipment to create a remote-controlled assembly. This will enable your celestial targets to be viewed and photographed from your computer or other devices in the comfort of your home. Bobby Manoo is Chair of Flamsteed Astronomy Society and is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He also holds a masters degree in Computer Science and this workshops brings together two of his passions, Astronomy and IT

In this video, Bobby Manoo skillfully restores a unique 1960s wooden telescope built from WWII military parts. Highlighting key restoration steps, from refurbishing the brass equatorial mount to reviving the wooden tripod, the video captures the telescope’s transformation. Ending with its first use in astrophotography, this project is a testament to history, ingenuity, and Bobby's dedication to preserving astronomical heritage.

A welcome from the BAA and FAS to this year's Comet Section meeting at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.